Liquid ejection apparatus, liquid ejection system, and liquid ejection method

Abstract

A liquid ejection apparatus is provided that includes a plurality of liquid ejection head units that eject liquid onto a conveyed object at different positions along a conveying path for the conveyed object; a first support member and a second support member that are respectively provided at an upstream side and a downstream side of a landing position of liquid ejected by a corresponding liquid ejection head unit; a detection unit that is installed between the first support member and the second support member for the corresponding liquid ejection head unit and is configured to output a detection result indicating a position of the conveyed object with respect to a direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the conveyed object; and a moving unit configured to move each liquid ejection head unit based on the detection result.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liquid ejection apparatus, comprising:
 a plurality of liquid ejection head units that are configured to eject liquid onto a conveyed object at different positions along a conveying path for conveying the conveyed object;   a first support member that is provided upstream of a landing position of the liquid ejected onto the conveyed object by a corresponding liquid ejection head unit of the plurality of liquid ejection head units;   a second support member that is provided downstream of the landing position of the corresponding liquid ejection head unit;   a detection unit that is installed between the first support member and the second support member for the corresponding liquid ejection head unit and is configured to output a detection result indicating a position of the conveyed object with respect to an orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to a conveying direction of the conveyed object; and   a moving unit configured to move the each liquid ejection head unit of the plurality of liquid ejection head units based on the detection result.   
     
     
         2 . The liquid ejection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first support member is arranged downstream of a landing position of an upstream liquid ejection head unit located upstream of the corresponding liquid ejection head unit; and   the second support member is arranged upstream of a landing position of a downstream liquid ejection head unit located downstream of the corresponding liquid ejection head unit.   
     
     
         3 . The liquid ejection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first support member and the second support member are provided with respect to the each liquid ejection head unit of the plurality of liquid ejection head units. 
     
     
         4 . The liquid ejection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection unit is positioned between the first support member and the landing position of the corresponding liquid ejection head unit. 
     
     
         5 . The liquid ejection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the moving unit moves the each liquid ejection head unit in the orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to the conveying direction of the conveyed object. 
     
     
         6 . The liquid ejection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection unit uses an optical sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The liquid ejection apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the detection unit obtains the detection result based on a pattern included in the conveyed object. 
     
     
         8 . The liquid ejection apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the detection unit, which is provided with respect to the each liquid ejection head unit of the plurality of liquid ejection head units, detects the position of the conveyed object for the each liquid ejection head unit based on at least two results of detecting the pattern at least two different times.   
     
     
         9 . The liquid ejection apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the pattern is generated by interference of light irradiated on a roughness formed on the conveyed object; and   the detection unit obtains the detection result based on an image capturing the pattern.   
     
     
         10 . The liquid ejection apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a measuring unit configured to measure an amount of movement in the conveying direction of the conveyed object;   wherein the liquid is ejected based on the amount of movement measured by the measuring unit and the detection result.   
     
     
         11 . The liquid ejection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the conveyed object is a long continuous sheet extending along the conveying direction. 
     
     
         12 . The liquid ejection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein an image is formed on the conveyed object when the liquid is ejected. 
     
     
         13 . A liquid ejection system, comprising:
 a plurality of liquid ejection head units that are configured to eject liquid onto a conveyed object at different positions along a conveying path for conveying the conveyed object;   a first support member that is provided upstream of a landing position of the liquid ejected onto the conveyed object by a corresponding liquid ejection head unit of the plurality of liquid ejection head units;   a second support member that is provided downstream of the landing position of the corresponding liquid ejection head unit;   a detection unit that is installed between the first support member and the second support member for the corresponding liquid ejection head unit and is configured to output a detection result indicating a position of the conveyed object with respect to an orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to a conveying direction of the conveyed object; and   a moving unit configured to move the each liquid ejection head unit of the plurality of liquid ejection head units based on the detection result.   
     
     
         14 . A liquid ejection method implemented by a liquid ejection apparatus that includes
 a plurality of liquid ejection head units that are configured to eject liquid onto a conveyed object at different positions along a conveying path for conveying the conveyed object;   a first support member that is provided upstream of a landing position of the liquid ejected onto the conveyed object by a corresponding liquid ejection head unit of the plurality of liquid ejection head units;   a second support member that is provided downstream of the landing position of the corresponding liquid ejection head unit; and   a detection unit that is installed between the first support member and the second support member for the corresponding liquid ejection head unit;   the liquid ejection method including steps of   the detection unit outputting a detection result indicating a position of the conveyed object with respect to an orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to a conveying direction of the conveyed object; and   moving the each liquid ejection head unit based on the detection result.